Why Republican businessman supports Claire McCaskill
Barb ShellyWhile talking to Kansas City businessman Warren Erdman a short while ago about a different topic, I asked him about his public support for Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.
Erdman served as chief of staff to now-retired U.S. Sen. Kit Bond before taking an executive job with Kansas City Southern in 1997. He also worked for John Ashcroft when he was Missouri governor . Those credentials make Erdman the marquis member so far of the fledgling “Republicans for Claire” caucus.
“I don’t agree with her on everything,” he said. “Philosophically I might disagree with her on something like how we lower the budget deficit.”
But McCaskill is pragmatic, a quality Erdman said he appreciates.
“Claire has impressed me as someone who will listen very carefully, and will consider different points of view,” he said. “When convinced, she’ll take a principled stand.”
He added, “As someone who worked 10 years in the Senate, I would like to see the art of governing re-established. What we need in the Senate is more skilled listeners. There’s no shortage of orators.”
Kit Bond, Erdman’s former boss, has sadly declared that he thinks the Senate would be better off if Missourians elect McCaskill’s opponent, Todd Akin, he of the Victorian views and extraordinary pronouncements. What Bond really means is that the Republican party might be better off, even if the price is turning Missouri into a national joke for the next six years.
People who honestly wish for a saner political climate should take their cue from Erdman. Of the two contenders, McCaskill is much more likely to listen, weigh the options and seek a consensus or compromise, crossing party lines if necessary. Seriously, if Akin was a good listener, Bond and the rest of the GOP establishment would have been able to talk him out of the race.
Phil Cardarella
7 months, 3 weeks agoUH…because he’s sane? Reason enough to support Claire over the guy who flunked eight grade biology and 9th grade civics.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 3 weeks agoWhy Mr. Erdman would give the big 0 the possibility of appointing more leftwing Supreme Court judges is baffling. Her voting record of YES to porkulus, 0’care and debt ceiling expansion merely add to her poor record as a Senator.
Mr. Erdman is apparently looking at some great interpersonal skill air claire has that enhances the camp fire experiences when all parties hug each other I guess. I would rather have a dedicated conservative that represents MO values and I know would vote NO to more leftwing judges….
Johnathon Busby
7 months, 3 weeks agoI’ll take the politician over the knuckle walking, anti woman, ignorant of eight grade biology, Luddite. The politician can be reasoned with; there’s no reasoning with someone like Akin, they have no handle on reality in the first place.
I hope to see Akin soon, asking if I want fries with that. Seems more up to his level of education and intellectual capacity.
Mark Hastert
7 months, 3 weeks agoI’m glad to see the more thoughtful prudent members of the Republican party voting for reason. The sooner they wrench control of the asylum from the inmates the better. A reasonable person cannot survive the right wing litmus tests imposed by the strident right wing.
John McCain, a man I personally admired and who ought to have been the 2000 nominee had to take on Sara Palin to appease them. Mitt Romney, known as a pragmatic problem solver had to kiss up to the extremist and adopt Paul Ryan. The baggage and debts Romney would owe the Tea Party is an albatross around his neck.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 3 weeks agoI think that if there is another 4 years of the big 0’s economic policies you will be much more likely to be asking me “super size?” then Akin, Johnathon…Of course super size will be outlawed by the fascists anyway…
And I truly don’t want that to be your future, but if we have 4 more years of this redistributionist class warfare, America will have lost its ability to compete. What do you think our national debt will be in 2016 Johnathon with more jimmy II?
This is the crucial quesiton you need to be asking because if 0 gets reelected, your future is toast young man… Just look at Greece and Spain for an early picture of America. It won’t affect me because I am an old fart, but you are screwed!!
Mark Hastert
7 months, 3 weeks ago“Just look at Greece and Spain ”
….By all means lets do! The state of California has a bigger economy that all of Spain and Greece? Dallas Texas has an economy about as big as all of Greece. Get a grip. I’ll bet you didn’t know that Spain had a balanced budget and a surplus until the crash. I’ll bet you didn’t know that the reason these two countries are on the brink is due to being stuck with the Euro and unable to devalue their currency relative to others and that the European central bank lacks the powers of our Fed and that austerity in Europe has failed, worse it put the Eurozone back into recession while our meager growth policy (that would be the “porkulous” stimulus) has us growing while they failed. So by all means talk all you want about Greece and Spain and Ireland too because they only prove that we did the right thing. If the Republicans have their way seniors will be standing on rubber mats greeting people at Walmart. Maybe you’ll get a discount at the pharmacy.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 3 weeks agofor the uninformed, Spain is the 12th largest economy in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofcountriesbyGDP_(nominal)
With its policies of the last 10 years, it now has unemployment of 25%, higher among youth Johnathon, and little prospects for meaningful improvement. The failed policies of “progressive” control of government with its unending promises to public employees is clearly on display in Spain and Greece. To say otherwise is a joke….
Mark Robertson
7 months, 3 weeks agoI have never heard of Erdman, but he seems like the typical RINO, or at least the typical “moderate.” He is likely a pro-abort as well. McCaskill is a fraud. She puts on the act that she is a sane Democrat when election time rolls around, but she is a typical leftist. And what is worse, Akin’s statement on rape or the fact that McCaskill actually supports the right to kill children in the womb. Yes, I know abortion is legal. Slavery was also legal in the U.S. at one point. Guys like Erdman are a drag on the Republican Party. They are so “smart” and “sensible” though. “…we did the right thing?” Right, that is laughable. The nearly trillion so-called stimulus was not only a total failure, it has made things worse. Taking money out of the private sector and putting it into government spending has never worked to improve the economy. See the Great Depression. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence
Mark Hastert
7 months, 3 weeks ago“he seems like the typical RINO”
… being a a right wing crazy doesn’t make a person a REAL Republican. The current crop of inmates running the Republican asylum have historically been the hysterical fringe and they will be again soon.